87. I Don't Know

"There seems to be a cold war going on between Yeon and Stan."

"let's speculate. What do you think Stan did this time? " Dad Joss asked.

"I thought the same thing too. It has to be Stan's doing yet again and to think they were getting along just fine...it's barely a month since he woke up and he had to go seeking a fight with his fated without being considerate of the amount of misfortune that has befallen Yeon's family. Stan should have been more thoughtful of Yeon's predicament before offending him."

They fell silent for a while, each in their thoughts and after some deep thinking, dad Joss concluded. "Perhaps Yeon has the temper of his father."

Dad Robin immediately brushed off the statement while shaking his head in refusal. "No. That can't be the case. We both know it's his daughter who took after him..."

"Yes you're probably right." Dad Joss nodded in agreement. Turning to look at his pair, he asked, "How is she doing by the way from the last you saw of her? I only managed to pay one visit while she'd been admitted at the hospital...and now we are here."

"Yeon's father assured me she is recuperating just fine together with his pair...or former fated."

"Jeez... I get goosebumps whenever I think of the bite marks she had all over her body. What kind of animal is her pair to bite her all over like that?"

Shoving his partner by the shoulder, dad Robin accused. "Look who is talking! You bite me all the time too- I feel bad for that poor girl."

"I'm getting goosebumps too at the thought of how broken she looked. Do you think she is going to heal properly without postmarking care?"

"Physically, it will take a while but eventually, she'll be fine. Mentally I do not think so. It may take months to years for her. Her father said she doesn't talk to anyone, always staring constantly in space that even after being discharged, she sits alone by herself in her room. What a waste of life. She had a promising career as an aeronautical engineer."

"What about her pair, or former fated? Any news so far?" Dad Joss inquired.

"Last time I checked, he was admitted in a mental institution. They said rehab won't do him any good since he may not have been an addict of the drug just yet. Honestly, I don't understand his predicament at all. When that young man woke up, as per his medical reports which I managed to peek into, his CT scan showed no damage to his brain tissues or structures. I had a little chat with the doctors who attended to him and they confirmed no major diseases there. His mental state is the one that's completely shattered otherwise his bodily functions are normal. Post flushing the drug out of his system, he acted normally. His reflexes and the way he answered questions was acceptable. He only kept calling out for Mijin and seemed oblivious of what he had done."

"Should we seek Jiwon's help?"

"Your brother can not take over his case because the boy is no longer a fated but a pair like us."

"Yes. You're right again. Maybe that is why Yeon's father called us- but who will take care of our clinic if we keep disappearing like this? Our business is going down despite me feeling bad over what is happening to Yeon and his family."

Rising and eyebrow, dad Robin asked. "Do you prefer to turn Yeon's father down then?"

"Of course not. Even if I wish to, we are already here anyway."

Both Stan's dads were sitting nervously in the living room of Yeon's parents home. They'd been well received and offered a beverage with they politely refused considering how nervous they seemed. Afterwards, both of Yeon's parents excused themselves with the excuse of going to prepare Mijin up for her to meet them.

"Do you think we should partner with them in their business too? I mean, we should offer some form of help. This will reflect bad on Stan if Elric's mother is doing more than us..."

"It's not a competition honey." Dad Joss assured. "Sometimes, one does not need to do acts of charity especially in cases like this. The fact that we created time to show our support is more than enough."

"It's not an act of charity!" Dad Robin complained. "Neither is it a competition. You make me appear to be so heartless. I'm dying of guilt of how much little help we have contributed to Yeon's family yet we are the one's who took their son away from them in the first place. Keep in mind our son is fated to their's and appears to be at loggerheads with Yeon. What if they find out since we both know Stan is on he wrong?"

"Damn that son of ours. He will become our downfall someday. Yeon's father is scary even when he is calm. Can you imagine if he were to go berserk on us when all we have to offer this world is our looks and career..."

The appearance of a frail Mijin with both her parents walking behind her startled them and they both stood up in unison, reaching towards her, embracing her as if to comfort her out of pity.

Mijin seemed unresponsive and upon letting her go, she reached for the nearest seat and sat down, the rest following suit.

"She hasn't said a word since her admission. We've tried talking to her but it appears she is still traumatized over what happened to her as per Mora's explanation." Mijin's father elaborated.

"We've sought help from various psychiatrists but she remains unresponsive." Her mother added. "Despite the slow progress, yesterday she finally spoke up asking for you two."

"Really?" Both of Yeon's dad's looked at each other surprised upon asking in unison.

"Yes. She hasn't said a word after asking to see either of you and I'm glad both of you came together. We were hoping you could help us reclaim our daughter. Seeing her in this distraught state has put my husband and I in a difficult spot."

"Have you tried scenting her like before?" Dad Robin asked, his eyes on Mijin, who was staring blankly at the floor.

"We...did briefly...but were advised against forcing her recovery. My scent may have worked before on her but this time, she is marked. Her response to my scent is not as quick as it used to since henceforth, she only desires the scent of her marker." Looking at her fated, Yeon's mother continued. "Yoen's case was different since he wasn't fully marked...but since Mijin imprinted on two people, one who didn't mark her and another who'd previously marked another, I hope her imprint wears off"

"It has to." Her father added. "It wore off on Yeon's attackers and it most definitely wear off in my daughter's case as well."

"Of course." Dad Robin nodded in agreement.

"Seeming that you are both doctors specializing on pairs, you're the best people to take my daughter out of her current torturous state. We do not know how she feels for she would not tell us anything but when she asked to see either of you two, it was then that it hit her mother and I of your occupation." Yeon's father spoke, his eyes on Mijin.

"Certainly." Dad Robin agreed, looking at his pair. "My husband though handles mostly medications for pairs. That is his speciality and he has done it well, however, I may be able to examine her and look into what we can recommend for her. Probably antidepressants to help her calm down and sleep well...and eat well too."

"That would be lovely." Mijin's mother replied with a warm smile on her face. Of the two parents, it was Mijin's father that seemed distraught by his daughter's situation.

"Alright. Would you mind giving us some alone time with her then?" Dad Joss requested and both of Mijin's parents immediately obliged, opening the door to leave with the excuse of taking a brisk walk.

"Thank you...for making them leave." Mijin spoke upon hearing the door close from her parent's departure, making Stan's parents look at each other in confusion. They hadn't expected Mijin to start cooperating as soon as possible.

"May I take off my sweater? I'm tired of staying hidden...as if what happened to me was my fault."

It was then that Stan's parents realized how uncomfortable she looked, dressed up in a lengthy dress up to her neck and a thick sweater on her. They both nodded, encouraging her to be as comfortable as she wanted to be.

She was still staring at the floor post taking the thick sweater off. She knew why the two people in front of her were quiet for sometime. She could feel their piercing gaze however, despite how uneasy it made her feel, she didn't find it as unbearable as when her parents gave her pity eyes.

Rubbing her palm on on one hand then the next, she felt the scars on her arms without having to look at them. She'd been seeing them everyday...the bite marks that were now fading away slowly, except for the itchy wound at the nape of her neck.

"Mijin..." Dad Robin broke the silence but was immediately cut off by Mijin.

"Don't feel sorry for me otherwise I might start self loathing again." Rising her head, she looked at both of Stan's parent's in the eye and said. "You two are the first people I've wanted to and felt comfortable showing myself to." Putting on a brave face, she continued. "I requested my parents to call you because I haven't heard from my brother in a while and I'm sure you see him everyday. How is he doing? Is he happy?"

Dad Robin began stuttering but dad Joss answered in his stead. "He and Stan are fairing on well. They are both worried about you. Stan can't move much due to the incident that happened to him but soon enough, the case will come to an end and you shall be able to see them both as frequently as you like..."

"Stan..." Mijin formed a smile on her face then returned her gaze back to the floor. "Is he taking care of my brother? Is Yeon happy with him?"

"Ah...Yes he is." Dad Joss replied, unable to read Mijin's expression. "They mostly spend time together unless Yeon has gone to work..."

"Okay." Mijin cut in once more then her smile disappeared. "I was hoping that was the case."

With her last statement, the room grew silent once more that it was too loud to breath. Unable to endure it, dad Robin decided to hit the nail on the head.

"Did you and Yeon fight?"

"Yes..."

"Why?"

"I don't know..." Mijin shrugged her shoulders.

"But you seem concerned for him when you should be concerned for yourself at the moment." Tilting his head to get a better view of her open mark on her neck, dad Robin shook his head sadly as he stated. "It doesn't look good. Without your pair, it will take some time to heal. I'm not sure if you're aware of that."

"Yes." Mijin raised her head once more to look at them. "Mom and dad said he is in some mental facility..."

"Yes..."

"He shouldn't be there." Mijin stated and both dads looked at each other in confusion.

"Whatever do you mean my dear?" Dad Robin probed further looking concerned while fearing for her mental state.

"He is the one who marked me. Shouldn't he be here taking responsibility for it?"

Both dad's could see Mijin struggle to not break down as she spoke and despite her being right, as per Elric's mother, Mora's brother was to stay in isolation until they could prove him mentally stable when completely off the drugs. There was this constant fear of him having withdrawal symptoms that could cause an imbalance in his mental state.

"Your mark...it's calling out for him." Dad Joss concluded and was immediately shushed by his pair, a simple reflexed act that made Mijin giggle a little and as soon as her smile showed up, it disappeared as if it never was.

"Are you sure you want to see him? It might not be the right time to do so though."Dad Robin cautioned. Upon no response from Mijin, he asked. "Is that why you called for us here? We are here to support you however I'm afraid seeing your pair is beyond our hands."

"I remember...some things." Mijin stated. "I felt him. I know him. I've been with him. My parents will be against it, that is why I requested to see you two. Who would better understand the problems of pairs if not another pair? My best memories in that island was because of you two. I spent more time with both of you than I did my family. I admired you two when you left me on the boat and went scuba diving together. Despite my tantrums, you never judged me and I ask you to think of me the same way when I insist that he should be taken out of that institution..." Suddenly, Mijin seemed to be choking form her prolonged need to cry.

"My dear..." Dad Robin reached out to her but she slapped his hand away immediately, tears falling down her eyes profusely while she muffled her sobs by covering her mouth.

"Take him out of there...please..." Mijin begged as she looked at a confused pair in front of her.

"Why? He is the reason you are in this state..." Dad Robin insisted but stopped when dad Joss patted his shoulder gently to caution him.

"Tell us why we should help you then and I promise you, we shall follow through." Dad Joss spoke firmly, his hand gripping tightly at his pair's shoulder.

"...because...if you do not take him out of there...he will be killed..."

"By who?" Dad Robin couldn't control his need to know more.

Looking down once more, Mijin replied in a low tone. "I don't know."